Question for the subie guys

In a few weeks I am going to do a little work to the wagon.

1996 imprezza 2.2

I'll be doing timing belt,water pump,cam seals, valve cover gaskets, plugs/wires, probably belts and a T stat too. What can I expect? And anything else I should look for or check? Is all this pretty straight forward?

I did that stuff on my WRX and I found it to be pretty easy. I did do the timing belt in the car. I would consider just pulling the motor out.

Im not going to pull the motor! I'll probaly be doing all of it on a hoist.

Ur gunna need a big socket or the tool to install the cam seals cause the cams stick out so far.
thats about it. it is what it is. just figure it out like any other engine.

plus one on pulling the motor out. It will be easier and youll have access to which if i remember the name correctly, is the oil seperator plate. They have a knack for spontaniously leaking like a sive on these cars. Mine is leaking lol.

fyi:its very common to pull the motor for the simplest of subaru services, although prob not necesary for a t belt an w pump...

^ What Nate said.

Pull the engine to do a timing belt? haha no thats a huge waste of time. There is plenty of room to do a timing belt. I have done more than a half dozen head gasket jobs without even pulling the engine. If its a automatic you might need a tool or possibly a chain wrench to hold the crank pulley to take off the crank bolt because they are usually very tight. Either that or take out the radiator and condensor to get a impact gun on the bolt. There are also two 14mm allen plugs in the block for the wrist pins that sometimes leak. I usually just put some rtv on the threads and put it back in. Before you take off the belt, line up the timing marks so you know how the new belt goes on. When the timing marks line up its not on TDC, its more of a neutral position. Usually new belts have marks on the belt so it makes it a lot easier to line up the timing marks.

i always pull the motor for the common drivers side head gasket swap/just the way i do it. and as for timing belts i used to pull the rad but with the harmonic holder theres no need/makes it a one hour job tops.

the sohc motors are extremely easy to do a timing belt swap. the turbo/dohc ones can be a pain in the car. you won't have a problem.

I thought they were all dohc. Learn something new every day.

i did one on my cousins outback and it took a little more than an hour.

Pulling The engine also allows you to do the rear main seal. So you won't have to do it again later!